What is the Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas (EFNT)?
A designated fund of Communities Foundation of Texas, EFNT is an innovative philanthropy initiative designed to promote philanthropy among entrepreneurs and managers of growing companies.  In addition, EFNT translates successful entrepreneurial practices into useful tools for nonprofit agencies and organizations; and facilitates communication and collaboration between the two constituencies.

Who can join Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas?
Both private and public companies can join at any stage.  Size and/or duration in business do not matter. 

How does a company get involved?
A donation of equity to Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas is required for a company to “sign-up.”

How many shares, or what dollar value is required?
Although there is no minimum number of shares required, EFNT typically asks companies to donate the same amount of stock they would give a Director or top-level technical employee of the company. 

What happens to the stock?
When the company experiences a liquidity event, EFNT exercises the options and sets up a donor-advised fund at Communities Foundation of Texas for the company to recomend donations to charitable organizations.

How does a company contribute stock options to EFNT?
Easy, all one needs is a board resolution to grant the options.  The granting company issues a letter agreement and a notice of grant of stock option.  Contact EFNT to get the details, documents and answer any further questions.

What happens after a company contributes stock options?
Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas works with the company, conducting employee surveys on attitudes and interests in community involvement.  After the results of these surveys are evaluated, EFNT develops a working agreement with recommendations for initiating the company’s corporate community involvement program and building those relationships within the community.

What are the benefits?
Plenty!  Benefits are multi-faceted: 

• Company can defer charitable tax deductions until the shares are sold, allowing the company the potential for maximum charitable deduction.
  
  
• Converts equity into philanthropic programs benefiting the community without the expenses of setting up a corporate foundation.
  
  
• Provides a vehicle for companies to make charitable giving part of their business plan.
  
  
• Provides access to resources of EFNT's "Parent," Communities Foundation of Texas.
  
  
• Makes the company a better place to work and the community a better place to live through involvement programs; enhancing team-building, recruiting, retention, morale and employee satisfaction.
  
  
• Publicity regarding community involvement for start-ups is inexpensive advertising.
  
  
• Networking opportunities with like-minded corporate philanthropists.

Why join EFNT's network?
Joining EFNT gives companies a chance to give back to the community while enhancing the company's team building, recruiting, retention and morale.  It provides a virtual "staff" member who focuses on developing a corporate community involvement program.  Additionally, joining the Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas opens the door to the rapidly growing network of Entrepreneurs Foundations across the United States and in Israel that includes more than 300 companies and dozens of venture capital firms and professional service providers.

What other cities have EF affiliates?
Cities outside of Dallas, TX hosting EF affiliates include:  Atlanta, GA; Honolulu, HI;  Tel Aviv, Israel;  Boston, MA;  Portland, OR;  Austin, TX;  and Houston, TX.   The newest site is currently launching in Seattle, WA.